Agitator structure for centerpost agitator washing machines

ABSTRACT

A spiral ramp agitator for a centerpost washer is disclosed which has a plurality of small ribbed-shaped protuberances extending from the outwardly facing surface of the vane and generally adjacent the leading edge thereof to provide a dragging effect on the clothes, especially during the rearward portion of the oscillatory cycle of the agitator.

waited seam @fiifili Ahmad 51 Apr. 10, 1973 1 AGKTATOR STRUCTURE FOR[56] References Cited *CENTERPOST AGITATOR WASH-m6 UNITED STATES PATENTSMACWES 2,734,367 2/1956 Geldhof ..68/133 75 Inventor: Bashin- Ahmad,Burlington i 2,741,905 4/1956 Petersen ..68/134 Canada 2,228,057 1/1941Kirby ..68/134X 2,220,476 11/1940 Conterman ..68/134 73 Assignee; C i Wti h (j D116,978 10/1939 Comer-man ..68/l34 X i o ()ntario Canada et al[22] Filed: Apr- 0, 19 Primary ExaminerWilliaJn 1. Price AttorneyF. H.Henson, E. C. Arenz and F. A. [21] Appl. No.. 135,641 Winans [30]Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Sept. 14, 1970 Canada..92,990 A Spiral p agitator for a Centerpost Washer is closed which hasa plurality of small ribbed-shaped 52 us. C1. ..68/134 protuberancesextaming from the Outwardly faeing [51] Int Cl ma 17/10 surface of thevane and generally adjacent the leading [58] Fig. 0%. "68/133 134 gthereof to provide a gg g effect on the clothes, especially during therearward portion of the oscillatory cycle of the agitator.

8 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures AGI'IATOR STRUCTURE FOR CENTERPOST AGITA'IORWASHING MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates to an improved agitator structure for wellknown centerpost type washers, and more particularly to such an agitatorgenerally referred to as a spiral ramp agitator.

2. Description of the Prior Art Spiral ramp agitators are well known inthe art and are generally characterized by a central post portionprojecting above a flared circular base, hereinafter referred to as thebell portion. A plurality of vanes emanates from generally the upperpart of the post portion and are spirally contoured so that theyprogress outwardly and downwardly and terminate in a rather abruptleading edge joining them to the bell portion. The vanes are joined toeither the adjacent outer surface of another of the vanes or theadjacent centerpost portion by a similarly contoured spiral ramp.

Another known prior art centerpost agitator comprises a centerposthaving vanes spirally emanating therefrom in a manner similar to thatdescribed above but after a relatively short spiral contour, theyterminate in rather large radially extending paddle portions, thusresulting, in effect, in a paddle type agitator and not to be includedin the term spiral ramp agitator as referred to in the presentspecification.

As a practical matter, the agitators are molded as a unitary articlesuch that each portion is continuous with mating portions therebyproducing no definite line of demarcation and providing a generallyoverall smooth surface.

The use of such spiral ramp agitator in a washer providing oscillatorymotion thereto provides a desirable washing action generally through thetorroidal circulation pattern it induces in the water and clothes in thetub; however, it has been found that in some situations (i.e., dependingon the clothes load and amount of water etc.) there is a tendency forthe clothes to become somewhat bunched. This not only impairs thewashing action of the machine, but if the clothes remain in theirbunched condition at the end of the wash cycle and at which time theyare spun to centrifuge the water therefrom, the tub may be greatlyunbalanced and in conjunction with the high spin speed, the machine willbe subjected to excessive vibration, causing noise, motor overheating,etc., all of which are generally deleterious to the machine.

It is known to equip such centerpost agitator machines with unbalanceswitches which terminate the spin cycle during such vibrations. However,as this shuts the machine off, the washing cycle is not completed untilthe clothes are manually redistributed and the machine again turned onby the operator.

It is easily seen that if some method could be devised to maintain theclothes in a uniformly distributed relationship during the oscillatorywashing action of the agitator, not only the washing could be improvedbut the spin-dry cycles would also be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention is characterized by a spiral rampagitator for a centerpost agitator washer which includes a plurality ofgenerally vertical ribs protruding from the outer facing surface of thespiral vanes, generally adjacent the leading edge, which, during theoscillatory washing action of the agitator, alter the circulationpattern in such a fashion as to reduce the tendency of the agitator tobunch the clothes, thereby improving the washing action and decreasingthe unbalance due to the non-uniform distribution of the clothes duringthe spin-dry cycle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of theinner tubs of a centerpost agitator washer with the tubs cut away toshow the agitator situated therein; and,

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the agitator of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the attacheddrawings, a tub assembly 10 is shown comprising an exterior tub l1 and abasket 12 which is mounted concentrically with the tub and duringcertain cycles is free to rotate or be driven about a vertical axis.Also mounted concentrically about the axis is agitator structure 13which may be driven in an oscillatory fashion about the axis duringwashing cycles. For further disclosure of a washer of this type see U.S.Pat. No. 3,264,847.

The agitator is of the spiral ramp configuration, whereby a series ofgenerally vertical vanes 14 emanate at an angle from the central postportion 15 of the agitator and are contoured to spiral downwardly andoutwardly to a flared base or bell portion 16 of the agitator,terminating at a vertical leading edge 17, and generally defining aninner surface 18 facing the post portion and an oppositely facing outersurface 19. A ramp portion 20 is shown extending from the bell portion16 between a pair of adjacent vanes and subsequently terminating betweenone vane and the post portion 15 of the agitator.

The outer surface of one vane 14, as shown in FIG. 1, illustrates theprotuberances thereon which have been found to produce superior washingand spin-drying results. These protuberances preferably take the form ofgenerally vertical ribs 21 which are molded into the vane duringmanufacture; however, it is not inconceivable that protruberances ofother configurations,

such as dimples for example, could be employed, although such would notbe practical to mold unitarily with the vanes and therefore could besecured to the vanes as well the vertical ribs might be, in a variety ofother ways.

The improved performances provided by the agitator of this invention isbelieved to result from the altered action of the agitator on theclothes during the backstroke. A conventional oscillating spiralagitator washes clothes by circulating them within gasket 12 in aresultant generally toroidal motion as described in previously mentionedU.S. Pat. No. 3,264,847. However, the leading edge 17 of the agitatorproduces a jabbing effect on the clothes during its forward stroke,whereas during the backstroke the edge is less aggressive to the clotheswith the resultant effect causing the clothes to become bunched as theycirculate.

It is during the reverse portion of the stroke that the ribs of thepresent invention appear to make their presence felt by providing asurface which in this direction of rotation more closely matches theaggressive nature of the edge during the forward portion. Thus, thisslightly altered action of the agitator on the clothes during thebackstroke tends to maintain the clothes evenly distributed about theagitator and the slightly altered action during the backstroke tends tomaintain the clothes evenly distributed about the agitator.

I claim:

1. A spiral ramp agitator for a centerpost agitator washer having a bellportion forming a base and an integral central post portion, a pluralityof generally vertical vanes extending from said central post portion andterminating in an upstanding leading edge substantially adjacent theperiphery of said bell portion, each of said vanes defining a continuousspiral configuration throughout their length providing an innervertically oriented surface generally facing said post portion and anoppositely facing outer surface and wherein the improvement comprises:

means in said outer surface generally adjacent said leading edgeproviding an area having an irregular surface distinct from thegenerally smooth characteristic of the remainder of the outer surface ofsaid vane to increase the frictional contact between that area of saidvane and the clothes contacted thereby when said agitator is oscillatedin said washer.

2. A spiral ramp agitator according to claim 1 wherein said irregularsurface is defined by a plurality of adjacent rib means projecting fromsaid outer surface.

3. A spiral ramp agitator according to claim 2 wherein said rib meansare integrally molded with said vanes and extend generally vertically.

4. A spiral ramp agitator for washing clothes in a centerpost agitatorwasher said agitator including a central post portion flared outwardlyat one end to form a bell portion providing a base, at least onevertically oriented vane extending in a spiral contour throughout itslength outwardly and downwardly from said central post to terminatesubstantially adjacent the periphery of said bell portion at itsoutermost extremity in a generally vertically extending leading edgejoining said spiral contour and said bell portion, said spiral vanefurther having an inner surface generally facing said centerpost portionand an oppositely facing outer surface and wherein said outer surfacefurther defines an irregular surface generally adjacent said leadingedge to increase the frictional characteristics of that area of thespiral vane.

5. Agitator structure according to claim 4 wherein said irregularsurface includes rib means protruding outwardly from said outer surface.

6. Agitator structure according to claim 5 wherein said rib means extendsubstantially vertically on said outer surface.

7. Agitator structure according to claim 6 wherein said central postportion, said bell portion, and said vane including said rib means, areintegrally molded and preferably formed from a high impact plastic or aphenolic resin material.

8. An agitator structure according to claim 7 wherein said materialcomprises polypropylene.

1. A spiral ramp agitator for a centerpost agitator washer having a bellportion forming a base and an integral central post portion, a pluralityof generally vertical vanes extending from said central post portion andterminating in an upstanding leading edGe substantially adjacent theperiphery of said bell portion, each of said vanes defining a continuousspiral configuration throughout their length providing an innervertically oriented surface generally facing said post portion and anoppositely facing outer surface and wherein the improvement comprises:means in said outer surface generally adjacent said leading edgeproviding an area having an irregular surface distinct from thegenerally smooth characteristic of the remainder of the outer surface ofsaid vane to increase the frictional contact between that area of saidvane and the clothes contacted thereby when said agitator is oscillatedin said washer.
 2. A spiral ramp agitator according to claim 1 whereinsaid irregular surface is defined by a plurality of adjacent rib meansprojecting from said outer surface.
 3. A spiral ramp agitator accordingto claim 2 wherein said rib means are integrally molded with said vanesand extend generally vertically.
 4. A spiral ramp agitator for washingclothes in a centerpost agitator washer said agitator including acentral post portion flared outwardly at one end to form a bell portionproviding a base, at least one vertically oriented vane extending in aspiral contour throughout its length outwardly and downwardly from saidcentral post to terminate substantially adjacent the periphery of saidbell portion at its outermost extremity in a generally verticallyextending leading edge joining said spiral contour and said bellportion, said spiral vane further having an inner surface generallyfacing said centerpost portion and an oppositely facing outer surfaceand wherein said outer surface further defines an irregular surfacegenerally adjacent said leading edge to increase the frictionalcharacteristics of that area of the spiral vane.
 5. Agitator structureaccording to claim 4 wherein said irregular surface includes rib meansprotruding outwardly from said outer surface.
 6. Agitator structureaccording to claim 5 wherein said rib means extend substantiallyvertically on said outer surface.
 7. Agitator structure according toclaim 6 wherein said central post portion, said bell portion, and saidvane including said rib means, are integrally molded and preferablyformed from a high impact plastic or a phenolic resin material.
 8. Anagitator structure according to claim 7 wherein said material comprisespolypropylene.